When I first moved to New York, I lived in a 4th floor walk-up facing 89th Street. At night, the glaring streetlight sought my face no matter which way I turned. During the day, the sun burst through my south-facing windows, turning my bedroom into an atrium. There was no relief.

Fifteen years later, walking home along Eastern Parkway, I noticed the tree leaves lit by streetlights. Beautiful illuminated solitary branches under dark canopies. But their beauty highlighted by an artificial light. I wondered when they slept.

I adjusted the curve, contrast, levels, and sharpness of each image. The shadows were deepened to isolate each branch from the canopy.